I thought I’d start posting about my current restoration project, a 1971 Honda SL70 (K0). My interest in this particular model is very typical, I wanted one as a kid in the worst way but my folks simply couldn’t afford it. I got a great little used ’65 Honda S90 instead, and quickly moved beyond the SL70. I wish I still had the S90, but that’s a story for another time.
But… I never forgot about the little SL70s, and some time ago decided I’d have one, just like the new ones I longed for on the dealers showroom floor more than 40 years ago. Even if I had to build it myself, which is pretty much what I’d have to do, unless I bought one already restored. That approach just isn’t in my DNA, I’d have to do it myself – remember, it’s the journey, not the destination – so a few years ago I started looking for a restoration candidate.
I found a suitable project at Mid-Ohio about five years ago, and it was rough… really rough, even by my standards. Not too rough though, as I brought it home and it took a few years to get around to it as I was deep into the H2 project at the time. A little over a year ago I finally got started on the SL70, and it’s about 80 percent done now.
Here’s a few “before” photos to give a sense of where it started, I’ll be adding some current photos photos over coming days, as well as a video of the first-start of the rebuilt engine from a few weeks ago.
